The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-03
For THE UNIvERsALIsT.
A FORTNIGHT AMONG THE
IRISH.
BY MRS. CAROLINE A. soULE.

Not very fascinating title you will say
for midsummer letter, or article; but,
as it was among the Irish spent my
holidays, can write of nothing else.
And these were real Irish-Irish on their
native soil-my address for two weeks be-
ing Upper ALA, Cumber Claudy county
Londonderry, Irelandl And how did I
get there, and why did go?
Well, we have "holidays" in Scotland,
never vacations" and in Glasgow the
holidays come in July always; the Glas-
Cow Fair Holidays beginning on the 18th,
Thursday. These are the holidays of the
working people, and it is at this season,
if any, that the "clergy" may take theirs.
So our kirk" by agreement of the trus-
tees, was to be closed two Sundays, the
18th and the Oath, and the Missionary had
leave of absence. Then came the ques-
ton where to go? Not an easy one to
answer, for the place must not be too far
away, the lodgings cheap, the air pure;-
the last the essential, for winter of hard
coughing had left me with sore lungs and
a short breath, for which there is no med
icine equal to pure cir. My thoughts
turned first to Edinburgh, my ideal city;
indeed, would change the saying: "Sse
Naples and de- to "See Edinburgh and
de-" But as there was probability l
would die did / go to Edinburgh now,
the air from the German Ocean being
very severe on weakly lungs, and as nay
life seems needed here just now, was,
compelled to abandon that idea. Then /
thought yearningly of the Isle of Wight,
and of Devonshire, with its y-clad lanes
and it's delicate beauty. But they were
too far off aud the expense too much. st.
Andrews, with it's fascinating ruins, loom
ed up next; but that Is right on the Ger
man Ocean, so it must be left out. Where
then should go?
The "auld people" with whom I lodge
were going to ireland, and finally pro-
posed that / go too, and live the simple
life of cottar, or peasant, for fortnight;
for it was there would get the guild air,
and chickens, and cream, and fresh but
ter and eggs. Life in an Irish cabin for
fortnight, could I endure it? Well,
thought could, providing l could get
room to myself, and bed to myself, two
things not easy to find under thatched
roof The 'auld wife thought she could
manage it, and so week before my holt
days began, saw her and the "guid"
man off to Londonderry, and took my
self off to Lanark, to ramble among the
haunts of my earliest hero, Sir William
Wallace. Bat l must stay my pen with
the mere mention of his name, or my pa
per will be all about the Scotch instead
of the Irish.
Returning, found letter saying that
1 could have room and bed to myself,
that was to cross on Tuesday right and
a car would meet me on the quay of Derry;
that l must bring coffee, two towels, a
napkin, my knife, fork and epoons;-the
auld wife had prudently carried over
sheets and pillow cases. Aye, and 1 must
bring my own Gorgonzola," il l would
need any, "for it couldn't be had here"
Lest you should think "Gor gopzola" is
patent medicine, or "strong drink" will
just explain that it is my favorite cheese.
SO Tuesday afternoon, July II, found
me aboard OF the Thistle, (not the famous
yacht,) but fine steamer, and at four
o'clock we steamed out of the Broomie-
law and down the Clyde. | never weary
of the sail down the Clyde, though until
you reach Greenock you are nearly deaf
ened with the sound of the ship hammers.
But to me every stroke means money,
and money means so much to the patient
workman and his helpless family. On
the way down we pass the "Furnesia," 60
ing up to Glasgow with her American
passengers and American produce, and
we wave them, the passengers, 2 welcome
and almost envy them their first sight Of
the picturesque aud eountrie. At Green
ook we wait for those passengers who
have come down by rail, and at nine we
steam down the Firth, between it's green
shores, almost every yard OF which is IA
miliar to us now,-Greenock, the Holy
Loeb, kim, Donoon, where We spent six
weeks in 1875,-the Cloch lighthouse,
which was our great comfort during all
those painful nights,-Irmellon, Toward
Point, and then off into broader path,
with ArraD on one side and Ayr on the
other, and Ailsie Craig looming upin the